Star identifier



STAR IDENTIFIER Filed April 26, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 27, 1945. y F. H. HAGNl-:R 2,372,487

STAR IDENTIFIER Filed .April 26, 1943l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @tn NORTH POLE W NORTH PULE SOUTH POLE SOUTH POLE www# March 27,1945. F, H, HAGNER STAR IDENTIFIER Filed April 26, 1945 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 AVA VV Patented Mar. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE o STAR IDENTIFIER Frederick H. Hagner, San Antonio, Tex. Application April 26, 1943, Serial No. 484,639

(olas-4s) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a star identifier and has for one of its 'objects the production of a simple and eiiicientA device for facilitating the identication of known, as Well as unknown, stars and the like, by direct observation of the stars through a transparent semispherical gauge upon which gauge the proper positions of known navigational stars areindicated as to their correct declination and sidereal hour angle.

A further object of this invention is the pro,

duction of asimple and efficient means for identifying stars and the like, wherein a transparent semispherical globe-like element is provided, upon which globe-like element the relative positions of known stars are indicated to facilitate identication of the stars to the eye of an observer as they appear in the heavens during their diurnal movement from east to West.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of one form of the invention illustrating the device in use; A

Figure 2' is a perspective view looking `at the inside of the identier;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view; 4 Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the star identifier or gauge strip used with the present invention;

' Figure 5a is a plan view of a modified formof the star-identifying strip; -v

Figure 6 is an elevational View of one semisphere globe; i

Figure 7 is an elevational View of the other semisphere globe;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the assembled semisphere globes; l

"Figure 9 is a perspective view of one'semisphere globe illustrating the type of globe wherein the identifying strip is not used; o

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view o a portion of the globe, illustrating the identifying marking formed around the star-identifying apertures; i o

Figure 11 is anvenlarged transverse sectional view taken on line II--II of Figure 10;

.Figure 12 is a front elevational view of a.V semisphere shown in conjunction with the horizon band and altitudearc;

Figure 12a is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of one of the semispheres showi band and altitude arc;

Figure 14 is a side elevational view taken at right angles to Figure 12 Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view taken on line I5--I5 of Figure 12;

Figure 16 is a vertical sectional View similar to Figure 15 and illustrating a form of horizon band and altitude are mounted inside the semisphere;

Figure 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner of using the sernisphere for locating and identifying navigational stars;

Figure 18 is a front elevation of the altitude arc illustrating the graduations placed thereon;

Figure 19 is a'plan view of the horizon band showing the graduations appearing thereon.

The star identiiier consists of two halves of a transparent Plexiglas or other transparent sphere IU and II, corresponding to two halves oi' the celestial sphere, and divided so that 0 to 180 of sidereal hour angle from pole to pole is represented on one half and to 360 is representedon the other, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. Around the center line of each of the semispheres, meridians are drawn at intervals of 10 as shown also 1n Figures 6 and 7. These last mentioned lines or meridians represent sidereal hour angle.

Each semisphere 'is provided with a plurality of star-locating apertures I2 which are drilled or cut in a direction converging toward the center of the semlsphere. Some of these apertures l2 vare large to. designate stars oi the rst magnitude, and others are small to designate stars of the second magnitude. Each aperture lz may be properly designated by name or number accordmg to the namesof the stars as they appear in the Nautical Almanac. These apertures I2 are properly located upon the semispneres lil and II in accurate relation'one to the other as the stars actually appear in the solar system. In .other Words, each aperture I2 corresponds to a navigational star, and is positioned according to that stars declination and sidereal hour angle, and its size is determined by the stars magnitude, the large aperture representing first magnitude stars, and slightly smaller apertures representing second magnitude stars, etc.

The area surrounding each aperture I2 is preferably painted adJacent the edge oi' the aperture with a black ring I3 in countersunk relation and a band of luminous paint I4 is formed around the .outer edge of the black ring, boththe ringl I3 pole to pole in line with theaxes thereof.

and band I 4 being flush with the outer face of the semisphere. When holding one semisphere in the position, as shown in Figure /1, or at an angle to observe a star through one of the apertures I2, with the eye of the operator in the approximate center of the semisphere and at the same time locating a second star through another aperture, all of the navigational stars may then be identified through their respective apertures either by reference numbers or names. The 1uminous bandiormed around each aperture will facilitate the registration of the beam of light from an observed star and the locating or identiffying aperture I2. The names of the stars or their reference numbers may be painted with luminous paint upon the semisphere adjacent-the respective apertures.

There are several modified structures which may be used for carrying out the purposes of i this invention, and these structural modications will be described in the following:

In the form shown in Figure 1, one 'semisphere `is shown indicated by thenumeral I above referred to, and a star-identifying vstrip I5 is pivotally securedat the north and south poles I6 and I1 of the semisphere I0. This strip I5 is bowed to conform to the contour of the semi'- sphere I0 and swings against. the inner face of thesemisphere I0 fromedge to edge of the semisphere. cated upon the star-identifying striplIS, as indicated at I8., `by :a cross lineat theircorrect angle and their reference numbers. according to the Nautical Almanac are .placedbesidethe cross lines. The cross lines. and .reference numbers fare preferablyof luminous .paint which will glow in the dark and will facilitate their observation by the operator., andare arrangedalong the center line ISE- see Figure 5. A sighting strip I9 is secured atits ends to the ends of the identifying strip vI5 and extends vertically` as shown from This sighting strip ,I 9 `is provided with a central sighting aperture 2 0 whichis located at the exact center oi the semisphere ID. The sighting strip I9,is xed in any.y suitable manner to the ends o'f'theidentif'ying strip I5, and asthelsrtrip I5 swngsaro'und the inner face of the semisphere IU the sighting Astrip Hlwillrotate about the keeping the sighting opening "2`D`in proper alignment'with the inner face of the 'identi'fy'ing strip I5.

As lshown in Figure 5a, the identifying strip I5? may be graduated 'along the longitudinal central line from endtor end 'running 'from the center at `0 to 90"tow'ard the end.

t should be uirdersto'od`that in actual operatien, one sei/nisphere is heid in 'front ofthe eve ef an observer, `in a position to ksee the'navi'gational stars, which he may desire Ito identify, lhe then registers any two navigational starswith two of the apertures I2 and when these stars so register, the observer 'swings the identifying strip I5 -so that the selected `cross mark "on the strip passes over in registration with -these lect'ed apertures I2. When, for instance, the mark (11+) registers with a navigational star and .oneV of the apertures 12, the observer will know that this is star' Vnumlzier 1-1 the Nautical Almanac. Then ytheistrip I 5 isswung fur'ther tobring (22+) .inline with. a second navigational star andasecondaperture I2, the observer will know` 'thatthisA star isstar number 22-listed in the Nautical Almanac. ABy following Athis pro-1 The navigational i stars are. properly lo-` cedure, all of the navigational stars may be properly and accurately identifed.- The same result may be accomplished by using the graduated strip lila which will locate the stars by their positions as to degrees marked on the strip I5 in yplace of the key-marks (11+, 22+, 7+, 5+, 21+, 6+, 13+, 14+, 19+, and 2+) as shown in Figure 5.

If desired, the identifying strips I5 and I5a, as well as the sighting strip I9 maybe dispensed with, as these elements are optional equipment, and the apertures in the semisphere Illa numbered or named so that the proper navigating f stars may be identified by thel eye of the observere-see Figure 9.

As .previously mentioned, each semisphere with lines spaced ten degrees apart and converging toward each pole. These lines represent sidereal hour angles, one globe having from 0 to andthe other from 180 to 360.

Cross lines at rightangles to the above 'mentioned lines are also placed'upon each semisphere. At the center of each semisphere is the celestial equator line whichiszero, and other parallel lines are arranged upon each semisphere spaced ten degrees apart toward the oppositepoles. These cross nlinesare known. as `north and south declination linesA (circles). 'As shown in Figures 6 and 'l 'the suns ,path marked with the months of the yeark may befindicated upon the semisphere.

In Figure 8 thereis shown a diagram `in which twol semispheres arel assembled having sidereal hour anglelinesindicated, converging at the poles, and having certain navigational-'starsindicated thereon with the various months of the .year also indicated thereon,

Each semisphere illustrated is intended to represent a spherical chart oi the navigational stars in theirA correct `relative positions, and the coordinates used in nautical astronomy. 'lhere are 55 navigational stars inthe Nautical Almanac. Up `to 'this time, all other. methods of star 'identication presented a mathematical problem `in 'order to :find the local hour angle and latitude of theobserven as well as to correct Greenwich time, `because of the fact that flat charts .or `.iiatgraphs Lor. flat`V surfaces ,have been used. The present invention, however, yallows an observer to .identify thenavigationalystars by matching the referenceY holes or.. identification means on the ,semisphere withv any two navigational stars. Thesel holes or identification means on .the semisphere surface allconverge 4towa'rdthe eye ofthe observer which is located attheapproximate `center and, in line with `the twdpoles ofthe semisphere.

It should be understood that the presentdevice Ais an'ins'trument which may bey takenby an observer, a student, or anavigator, into theopen in"`the` darkgatfnight, 'and he may grasp the instrument in' his hands adjacentthe edgesof the instrument, with neeye at the approximate center between 'the two pol'es 'andr in line 'therewith; The observer may `then move the instrument until'twpbrightstars inthe heavens register with two of the apertures or indicating means formed upon'the'instrument'or seniisphere. The numbers rvor 'names 'ofthese stars 'will appear aidjacentthe identification means on the instrumentvandf-by recognizing these starsjas a result of this identiication means, the observer ywill be...-ab1eY toV identify the stars in the heavens 'because of .the vfactthatthe-ins'trurrient has been oriented or set' to a pattern wherein by matching two navigationalA stars the .other identifying means or apertures on the instrument will register with the other navigational stars. The observer may .thenmerely hold the vinstrument in a steadyposition and by shifting his eye he will note that all other' navigational stars appear in registration with the identifying means of the instrument. Y

In conjunction with this instrument above described in the natureof a'semisphere, Iuse a means for determining the altitude andazimuth of the observed body--star-'by direct observation byy the observerqthrough thistransparent semisphere and a suitable horizon; band and a suitable altitude arc. Note Figure 12.

An altitude indicating arc 26 is slidably mounted around Ythe upper periphery of the curved horizon band 25, which band 25 extends in a level transverse position even with the eye., This altitude arc 26 is graduated in degrees from-0 at the base t90" at its zenith point.` This altitude arc by ybeing moved from the center of the band toward its ends in line with a beam ofulight from a selected star or other celestial body will give the properaltitude and azimuth of the observed body when viewed from the eye of the -observer located at the approximate center of the semisphere I0 looking in thedirection of a star or other celestial body,lthe azimuth reading being obtained by noting theV position of the altitude arc 26 upon the scale formed upon the outer face of the horizon band 25.-,

The -band 25 and the arc 26 are both formed of suitable transparent materia1 and all markings thereon may be made vwith luminous paint to permit of` a proper reading at night. VThe band 25 is graduated as shown in Figure 19, and the arc 26 is graduated as shown in Figure 18. The arc 26 may be slidably mounted in any manner upon the top edge of the band 25 such as is shown at 21 in Figure l5, when thedevice is used upon the outer riface of the semisphere l0, or at 28 when the device is mounted for contact with the inner face of the semisphere I0. It should be understood that I do not desire to limit the present invehtion to the exact mechanical details of construction since this may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore the elements for measurement may be varied as to graduation and marking` and the star-identifying means may be a mark, an aperture, or any other means which may be placed upon the semisphere I0 to identify stars and the like. It should be further understood that where I refer in my description to the semisphere I0 this description equally applies to the semisphere Il since kthe semisphere I0 contains indication of one group of navigation stars, and the semisphere Il contains indications of the remaining group of stars.

In measuring the altitude and azimuth the transparent semisphere I0 is held in front of the face of the observer with the band 25 in a straight horizontal position, after the stars have been properly located in registration with the identifying means on the semisphere. The altitude arc 26 is then moved along the top edge of the band 25 until the illuminated center line on the altitude arc 26 registers with the star and the identifying means I2 on the semisphere. The distance from the horizon to the point of registration will give the altitude of the star, and the position of the altitude arc on the band 25 will give the azimuth. The distance between the upper edge of the bend I2 and thev lower edge lof the semisphere-note Figure 12, will give the polar distance of the observerythat is to say the distance between the pole and the horizon. This information enables the navigator .to make use of these measurements to determine his approximate positionvrelative to the observed body-star-the angle of which has just been measured.

This instrument permits a navigator to properly and accurately identify the desired star and then to use a sextent to accurately measure the proper star and not some other star. This avoids confusion and prevents the navigator from taking measurements from an incorrect star. -In many instances because ofthe cloudy condition of :the skies, it is impossible to observe. a complete constellation of stars, but it often happens thatl at least two bright stars may be observed, and it would only be necessary to match the identification means of the instrument with two of these stars in order to accomplish the desired results and to identify these .two stars by means ,of the identifying means upon the semisphere which has been used v for this observation.

i Having described the invention, what is claimed 1. A star identifier comprising a part-spherical transparent body provided with an open side having peripheral edges, star-locating elements carried by the transparent body and arranged in a pattern to match the location of navigatoinal stars inthe heavens vwhen the stars are viewed by an observer through said transparent body, the peripheral edges being adapted to be gripped by the hands of'an operator to facilitate the holding of the transparent body in front of the face of the operator, and the pattern of locating elements being arranged in 'correct relative positions so that when any two elements match with two navigational stars, all other elements likewise match with the remaining navigational stars. l

2. A star identifier comprising a part-spherical transparent body having star-locating elements carried thereby and arranged in a pattern to match the location of navigational stars in the heavens when the stars are viewed by an observer through said transparentfbody, the pattern of locating elements being arranged in correct relative positions so that when any two elements match with two navigational stars, all other elements likewise match with the remaining navigational stars, a sight-carrying means spanning the transparent body and said sight-carrying vmeans having a sighting element located at the center of said sight-carrying means to facilitate the accurate 'placing of the star-locating elements in matched relation and in alignment with side of the transparent body in front of the face 1 of an operator, and the transparent body having selected navigational star-designating means 1ocated upon the transparent body in accurate relative location so that all of the selected navigational stars will be relatively located and matched with the star-designating means upon the transparent body when any two navigational stars are' aligned with two selected star-designating means on the transparent body and the eye of the ob- ;serverlocatediadiacenttheopenaside otfthetransparent body. i

4. A-.star matching and identifyingizdevioencom prising avtransparent-partfsphericalhollow body having an` openside withperipheral edges, :the body being adapted: to be i gripped` by. the'r :hands "of" an operatorv .along thev (peripheral, edges and adapted to be held in a positionfwith the., open side of: the transparent body in vfront-ofthe Lface or.an-operator,V and the. transparent body; having selectedf` naviga-tional'l luminous :star-designating means locatedv 'upon the transparent body zin Vaocurate rela-tive locations so that :al1-of the selected navigational stars willnbe-.relatively located and matched with the star-designatingmeans upon the transparent lbody when :any ftwo, .navigational starsV are .ialigned-iwithtwo `selected starr designatingr means` onzthe transparent.- bodyiand `.the eyejofthe observer'locatedladjacent `the open side offthe transparent body. y

5o. A- star matchingl and identifyingdevice comprising a transparent' partvsp'herical hollow -body having an open side with peripheral edges, the body beingvadapted'to bey grippedby .the .hands .off'an operator along the. peripheral yedges .and adapted to be heldin a position With the open side of thestransparent` bodyin front of the face of'an operator, and the transparent body'having apertures constituting. selected navigational :star- `designating meanslocatedlupon the transparent body in accurate` relativelocations so vthat all of the selected navigational stars will be relatively located and matched ywith the @star-:designating means :upon the `,transparent body when'v anvxtwo navigational stars are aligned vwith two selected 1 star-designating means Yon the transparent lbody andthe eye of'fthe.observer locatediadjacentzthe open side ofthe transparentfbody.v

V6. .Astar matching and identifying device com- .prising a transparent part-:spherical hollow.. body having an open side with rperipheral edges, the body being adapted to be gripped by the hands ofan operator; alongthe peripheral'. edges .and

adapted `to `be heldin a position with the openside off. the transparent body in front-of the face oran operatori, the transparent body'having apertures constituting selected navigational star-designata- -designatng means on thentransparent jbodyv `and the eyel of the `observer located `adjacent vthe =open side 4of 'the transparent body, `and a luminous indioating-rneans surrounding each apertureto facilitate the matching ofthe designating means with the navigational stars at'night;

- '7.-' A lstar'` matching and `identifyingdevice comprising a transparent part-spherical hollow body having 1an-open side vvithperipheral edges, the fbody being adapted-to be gripped by fthe hands of.' an operator along the peripheral edges-1 and adapted to be heldin va, position with the open side-oil the transparent body in front-ofsthe-face oran operator, the transparent body havingfselected navigational star-designating means locateduponthestransparentfbodyinaccurate:relati-vevlocat'ionseso that all of .the selected navigational stars -wlllbe relatively llocated and matched withthe star-designatingfmeans upon the transparentbody vwhen vany. two navigational-stars are aligned with two-selected-star-designating means Yon theftransparent bodyandthe eyeof the observer located adjacent the open=side of the transparent body, the transparent body havingfan axis, aistareidentifying-strippivoted-upon the axis yconformingA to and lying closely `againstithe ycontour of the transparent-body; individualstar-identifying means .located upon thefidentify-ing strip -andfadapted `to be selectively brought-into'registration with the-star-designatingmeans for identifying the navigational stars Amatched. with a selected lvstar-designating means.

v FREDERICK HAGNIEIR.` 

